Aysgarth Falls, Askrigg and Carperby
By John Edmondson
Fact File
Distance: 10 miles (k16m); Ascent: 1000 feet (300m); Time: 6 hours
Terrain: Good footpaths and tracks
Map: OS Explorer OL30
Start: Aysgarth Falls Yorkshire Dales National Park Visitor Centre, DL8 3TH grid ref. SE 011 887
Enjoy a walk in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
It’s about an hour’s drive from Kendal and visits Aysgarth Falls and the attractive villages of Askrigg and Carperby, both of which are famed for their association with fictional vet James Herriot from the television series ‘All Creatures Great and Small’.
Route Description
Follow the signed footpath from the far end (west) of the visitor centre car park to the Upper Falls.
Keep right immediately before the road bridge and visit the picnic area beside the Upper Falls.
Return to the main path, turn left and follow the path going around the right of the farm and continuing westwards generally following the line of a former railway.
The path crosses stepping stones, goes beside the river then joins the former railway.
After crossing a stile beside a stone barn at Nappa Mill, turn right and walk along the lane.
At the junction, take the field path on the opposite side of the road leading to a walled path and entering the attractive village of Askrigg.
At a junction of lanes keep right, follow the stony lane of Silver Street and continue northwards through a gap stile to meet Leyburn Road opposite the car park.
Turn left then right on to Moor Road, signed Muker. Alternatively, to visit the village at the junction of lanes turn left to meet Main Street.
Turn right, walk up through the village and after the Crown Inn keep straight on up Moor Road.
At the top of the green, where there is a bench, turn right onto the permissive footpath signed Newbiggin.
Go through a wicket gate beside a hedge on the left and ascend across fields to a gate near a barn.
Turn right onto the track crossing Newbiggin Beck and in the pretty hamlet cross the road to left of the green.
Pass Willow Garth, go through a metal gate and bear left in the direction shown by the fingerpost signed Heugh Lane.
The path passes to the left of a barn, goes through a metal gate, ascends through woodland and fields to a stile in the top right corner.
Turn right onto the lane then keep left (uphill) at Heugh and continue ahead along the bridleway signed Castle Bolton.
After about 1½ miles the track descends past trees and meets another track. Keep left, go through a gate and continue along the bridleway signed Castle Bolton.
The bridleway, called Oxclose Road, goes past a disused lead mine then ascends gently to a gate.
Turn right immediately after the gate and follow the path curving left, going through a wall gap then turning right alongside a wall on the right.
After passing a disused quarry, turn right, go through a gate then turn right onto a track descending to Carperby.
After the next gate the path leaves to the left of the track and passes left of West End Farm.
This is where Alf Wight (better known as author James Herriot) spent his honeymoon in 1941.
Six weeks later, Greta Garbo stayed here after entertaining troops at Catterick Garrison with band leader Henry Hall.
Take the footpath directly across the road from the inn.
Follow the field path leading to woodland. Keep right in the wood to meet a road.
Turn left and immediately after going under a former railway bridge turn right to the Visitor Centre where the walk beg
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